14 February, 11:39
In the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine’s Luhansk region, referred to by Russia as the "LNR," a serious threat of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) has emerged. This highly contagious viral livestock disease could lead to massive economic losses and a food crisis.
Sources report that in December 2024, the Voronezh laboratory detected positive FMD samples in cattle at the Agroprodservice LLC facility near Belgorod. However, no necessary measures were taken to prevent the spread of the infection.
Following personnel reshuffles in Rosselkhoznadzor, orchestrated by Ruslan Khasanov’s protégé Sergei Sugak, control over the transportation of agricultural products was effectively lifted. The removal of veterinary inspection posts allowed the unchecked transportation of infected animals, significantly increasing the risk of an outbreak.
Attempts by some Rosselkhoznadzor inspectors to stop the illegal transportation of livestock were met with severe resistance. Inspectors faced pressure from officials and even threats from livestock owners. Those who refused to comply with corrupt schemes became targets of unjustified internal investigations aimed at forcing their dismissal.
Notably, even after confirmed laboratory results, Rosselkhoznadzor officials failed to take appropriate actions—no quarantine posts were established, nor were infection hotspots eliminated. Instead, within days, infected animals were replaced, making it difficult to trace the further spread of the disease.
Beyond the food security risk for Russia, this situation could lead to the suspension of meat and livestock exports to China, a market that Russian authorities have struggled to open for over a decade. The Belgorod and Voronezh regions—Russia’s key meat-producing areas—would suffer the most.
Additionally, corruption within Rosselkhoznadzor in the occupied Luhansk and Donetsk regions has sparked growing concern among local businesses. Entrepreneurs in Donetsk have increasingly reported being extorted by inspectors, while authorities attempt to cover up the involvement of specific officials by retroactively dismissing them.
Thus, the FMD crisis in occupied Luhansk is not just a local problem but a major threat to Russia’s food security and international trade, further highlighting the chaos and corruption in the administration of occupied territories.